Sex Week: A Fearless Idea

Half
of the 20 million STIs diagnosed every year in this country are among 15-24-year-olds.

HIV
is diagnosed at the highest rates among 20-24-year-olds.

About
1.3 million unplanned pregnancies occur in unmarried women in their early 20’s
who experience unplanned pregnancy at the
highest rate; more than teens and women in their late 20’s.

Approximately
1 in 4 college women report that they have survived a rape and about 1 in 5
high school women report the same.

58%
of college students say they don’t know what to do to help someone who is a
victim of dating abuse.

College professionals across the
country unfortunately see these statistics brought to life and significantly
shift the trajectory of a student’s life as well as their academic and personal
potential. Many campuses are faced with reactively addressing these serious
consequences among a group of young adults that have matriculated into college
with inadequate and insufficient education about their bodies, sexuality,
sexual responsibility and sexual wellbeing.

The University of Maryland’s
Division of Student Affairs believes that in order for students to reach their
maximum potential, we must cultivate and support their personal, social,
physical, and intellectual development. Therefore, we have decided to proactively and positively address the
sexual health needs and concerns of our students by creating a Sexual Health
and Awareness Week, “Sex Week,” that will provide a variety of resources,
perspectives, and forums for our students to become educated leaders in sexual safety and responsibility on campus with
a strong foundation to build upon throughout
their adult lives. The week’s program has been framed around our divisional
values: enhancing individual development; encouraging student health &
wellbeing; and facilitating diversity.

Our University Health Center has
collaborated with many campus units and student groups to provide diverse opportunities
for new information and development. Our kick-off health fair will include
Maryland Hillel, University Student Judiciary, The Help Center, the Catholic
Student Center, LGBT Equity Center, The Vagina Monologues, UMD Feminists, the
Pride Alliance, Multicultural Involvement and Community Advocacy, Student
Government, Resident Life among many more campus partners.

The Prince George’s County
Health Department, local sexuality educators, the Rape, Abuse & Incest
National Network, the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, the Maryland Coalition
Against Sexual Assault and many more will be joining us on campus for a variety
of informative and inclusive programs. The calendar includes an interactive
sexual assault prevention workshop, free HIV/STI testing, a Women’s Health Open
House, informative conversations about birth control, a communication workshop,
various programs from religious and spiritual perspectives, Queer Open Mic (in
honor of National Coming Out Day) and more!

The goal of Sex Week is to promote an informed and empowered community
to support our fellow Terps and cultivate
a campus where we take pride in safety, responsibility and respect. Our
campus will not let the daunting statistics define our culture. Our FEARLESS
IDEA is to take the subject head on and set a precedent to all campuses that
our students can BE THE CHANGE.